Do thoughts of flying cause you anxiety?

For many people, planning for holidays abroad is an exciting prospect, with so many countries to choose from and many low-cost flights making travelling more accessible. However, for some, the thought of flying can cause raised anxiety leading to weeks of worry or worse still, such a fear that they avoid flying altogether.

We are not born with fear, we learn it and therefore it is possible to unlearn it. Fears and phobias can be caused by a variety of reasons, but can sometimes occur through imagination alone as the brain cannot distinguish between real or imagined danger.

Once we become anxious all of our senses become heightened. This means we are more aware of any change in noise that the aircraft might make as part of its normal function. With a general ignorance about how planes stay in the air, this can result in more anxiety, as we become convinced that something dreadful is going to happen.

Physical symptoms such as nausea, frequently needing the toilet, headaches, rapid breathing, pounding heart are all normal responses to danger designed to protect us. However, these same symptoms occur even when the danger is firmly situated in our imagination.

Regardless of how the fear or phobia started, it is possible to at best overcome it, or at least to manage it so that it no longer prevents us from doing the things we want to do. You may never enjoy flying but it is perfectly possible to remain relaxed and focused on your destination so that you no longer suffer from anxiety symptoms.

A short course of therapy helping individuals understand more about flying as well as the mind-body connection helps you to manage and control anxiety. Using guided imagery and relaxation to help you rehearse a forthcoming trip enabling desired holidays abroad to become possible.